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Bonding Time

I woke up feeling refreshed and couldn't help but be excited to hang out with both of the guys.

I wonder how this is going to work, having both of them around. It should be okay. I've gotten used to Shinsou pretty quickly and honestly, Bakugo is easy to read. I kind of expect his outbursts after the two interactions we've had.

Stretching, I reach over and snag my phone, squinting when the screen lights up. I frown when I realize I have five new text messages. Unlocking the screen, I click the group chat and panic at what I see.

Bakugo:
What do you mean you don't want your dad to use it against us?

Shinsou:
I'm curious, too Ren.
Bakugo, she probably won't answer. I bet she fell asleep.

Bakugo:
Well fuck that.
REN. YOU HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO TOMORROW.

I paled as I read the last message, not feeling anywhere near stable enough to have that entire conversation. I checked the time and breathed a sigh of relief. 8 AM. No way Shinsou would be here before ten. I had time to mentally prepare. Time for a quick chat with Izumo.

I dialed her number, knowing she would be awake. She answered on the first ring, such a saint. "Alright, I'm not freaking out. Yet. So, both of my soulmates are coming over and I may have let it slip that my dad is not the best person. How would you suggest I go about this?"

"Well, first of all, good on you for having both of them over! You've grown in leaps and bounds with social interactions and handling people. I'm proud of you kid." I choked up and she knew it. She didn't say anything, just let me catch my breath and refocus on the conversation.

"I would say to just go with the flow and do what feels right. You'll know what you can handle and what you can't. Maybe just give them a little warning at the beginning about not knowing how much you can share. State something along the lines of sharing this possibly being triggering for you."

Curling up on my bed, I soaked up her advice, conversing quietly with her about my mental health. She was such a great listener, never listening to respond but truly hearing what I was saying. I think she was the first person to ever see me and not look away, to see my brokenness and know that I could be healed.

I hope the boys can learn to see me like that. I don't want to hide who I was but I don't want them to think it defines who I am, who I'm becoming. I hang up after a good hour worth of talking and click the group chat again.

Ren:
Hey. I know you both have questions. I talked with Izumo, my therapist, and she said it would be good to talk about what I could. Don't get your hopes up. I don't know what I'll be able to say. I haven't really ever this with anyone except Izumo. Ssssoooooo, just don't be mad if I don't want to answer certain questions.

Also, come over whenever!

Shinsou probably won't rise from the dead until 9:30ish!

With that, I meandered downstairs, trying to be quiet so as not to wake Hana and Sora. They were going on a date today and I didn't want to start their day off by interrupting their sleep. Humming quietly, I started preparing an easy breakfast for myself. I bet they go out for breakfast. If they don't, I will definitely insist that they do.

Twirling around, I released a terrifying screech as I spotted Sora opening the fridge. The pan I was holding flew across the room and would have smacked him in the head if he didn't duck.

Hana came running in, assessing the situation and immediately burst out laughing. I melted to the floor, clutching my heart and laughing all at once.

Hana hobbled to the bathroom, exclaiming that she was about to pee on herself. Poor Sora looked so scared and I couldn't stop wheezing to apologize for my blatant attempt at murder. Not to mention eggs now covered the ceiling, floor, and cabinets.

Sora gave me a worried look before wiping eggs off his face and I lost all over again. If I wheezed anymore, I was going to lose a lung. Finally getting a hold of myself, I offered him a rag and grabbed a mop. Sora yanked it out of my hands.

"You. Are. Dangerous. In the mornings. Let me clean this up and then I can make us all something to eat." I snatched the mop back and poked his chest.

"No. Sir. You and Hana will start your date with breakfast not made by either of you! You go get cleaned up and I'll finish here." We had a stare off for a couple minutes before he caved and told Hana the plan. Success!

"Oh, just so you know, the guys are coming over and then we are all going to hang out! I don't know if we're staying here or going out." Sora's head whipped back around the door so fast it made me nauseous. I swear I heard his neck crack.

"Why am I just hearing about this?" Oh, no. I knew that voice. That's the dad voice.

"I just forgot about it yesterday, I'm sorry! Don't worry, we won't go into my room. We'll stay downstairs. I promise!" He glared a moment longer before mumbling and walking back to his room. I don't think I've heard the last of this…

Hana walked out looking like the goddess she is with Sora walking behind her, definitely checking her out. I leaned against the counter, eating my successful breakfast. Hana stopped in front of me and brushed a piece of hair behind my ear.

"Ren, I know you're responsible and that we can trust you. Will you just call us before noon? We want to check on you and make sure everything is going alright."

Sora's face said he would rather pop in and scare the boys but Hana had definitely reigned him in. "Do you prefer a call or a text every once in a while?"

Hana gave me a look and I nodded, calling before noon it was. I followed them out, telling them they had nothing to worry about because I now had Eraserhead's number on speed dial.

It felt like I had just sat down when the doorbell rang, making me jump out of my skin. "Geez! I know we have a doorbell, but why can't people just knock?" Yanking the door open, I blinked a few times, realizing the boys must have coordinated to arrive together.

"Hey guys, come on in. Hana and Sora just left for their date. Um, heads up, Sora is one hundred percent going to give you guys the talk or something. He all but killed himself when I mentioned we were all hanging out."

Shinsou chuckled and followed me through the door while Bakugo spluttered on the doorstep. "Wait! What the fuck do you mean he's going to give us the talk?" He shouted, slamming the door with force.

"Dude, chill. He's just protective of Ren. He is actually a pretty cool guy, both of them are chill. They aren't like most of the grownups you meet. They know how to handle teenagers." Shinsou yawned and plopped on the couch, pulling me down next to him. Bakugo stood in front of us, seeming to feel awkward.

"Sit with us. Since we've already touched once our bond craves more physical contact. It'll make you less antsy," I stated, grabbing his hand and guiding him to sit on my other side. When he tried to scoot away, I pouted and pulled his arm. Groaning, he leaned into me and threw his head back onto the couch.

Shinsou threw his arm around me and rested his hand on Bakugo's exposed shoulder. Feeling him tense slightly, I decided to take one for the team. "So… you guys are curious about my dad?"

That got their attention. Both sat up straighter and I could feel them staring at me. "Um, could you both relax. This is hard enough for me to talk about without having you being SUPER alert."

Bakugo snorted and threw his head back on the couch. "Whatever, shorty. Just say what you fucking can." I stared at his closed eyes in awe. Either he changed rapidly or the bond was working its magic.

"Stop fucking staring." I flushed, seeing him glare at me.

Shinsou snorted, loudly. Turning to him, I noticed he was situated the same as Bakugo. "Really, blasty. Are you saying you don't want an attractive girl staring at you?" I flushed beet red, so glad that their eyes were closed.

"Shut the fuck up, zombie. If it wasn't for this bond, I would kick your ass."

"Stop it. Both of you. Geez, boys are difficult," I mumbled the last part but they both still nudged me in annoyance. "Right, so my dad…"

FLASHBACK

I was four the first time I ever understood the word villain.

My mother was holding me, blood still smeared on her face.

I didn't know exactly what happened but I knew that someone had hurt her.

When I asked her why daddy didn't protect her from the bad men, she had decided it was time to stop shielding me.

"Ren. Know this. Your daddy is a bad man. He's a villain and he hurts people. Don't ever trust him."

Mommy didn't get to say more before she was ripped away from me. I didn't see her for a long time after that.

End FLASHBACK

I paused, feeling a hand on my knee and a shoulder fiercely pressing against mine. "Ren, hey, come back to us. You don't have to talk about it," Shinsou whispered.

"No, I do. He doesn't have that power anymore. If I stay afraid, then he holds that over me." Bakugo presses into me more, giving me silent support.

"Then spit it the fuck out." That was the push I needed.

Nodding, I grabbed both of their hands. "My father is a villain. He killed my mom and kept me until I was nine. Then, I was rescued and he was locked up." I was sweating. Those three little sentences almost broke me but they also set me free. I gasped for air, crying out as the pain clawed at my chest.

I felt arms wrap around me and I was engulfed by my soulmates. Shinsou understood and Bakugo hated not being in control. Both comforted a different part of me, helping me regain my balance.

"I'll kill that fucking bastard. Sick fuck," Bakugo growled in my ear and I laughed. I laughed so hard that I scared the living hell out of both of them. Finally, Bakugo grabbed me and shook me, until I focused on him.

"I'm okay. I'm okay. Seriously, I just… no one has ever said that before." I started laughing again and it set him off.

"Why the fuck is that funny? I'm not fucking joking! If I ever meet that sick fuck, I will kill him."

Shinsou interjects, wiping tears off my face. "Heroes don't kill, Bakugo. No matter how much we want to, that's not what we do." The venom lacing his voice made it clear that he agreed with what Bakugo wanted to do.

"I fucking know that okay. I KNOW! But FUCK! How is this guy still alive? How is justice served if he gets to sit cozy in a jail cell after all the shit he's done?" Bakugo's rage washes over me and honestly, it feels so good. Euphoric almost.

"Thank you, Bakugo. Thank you for raging with me but you have to let the rage go. I've learned that over the years. The best revenge I could ever get would be to live a fulfilled, happy life. To live life so fully that his darkness is washed away from my bones. And I fully intend to do that." Shinsou hummed, gently patting my hair.

"I don't fucking get it. Maybe one day I will. But I'm just too fucking angry right now to let it go. How the hell are you holding up so well, zombie?" Bakugo leans across my lap, coming nose-to-nose with Shinsou. He rolls his eyes and flicks the blond's forehead, almost starting another argument.

"Calm down, Bakugo." He sighed and ran a hand through his messy hair. I reached up and sunk my fingers in the purple locks, surprised by how soft they were. Glancing down at Bakugo, I did the same to him, laughing when he melted under my touch. I looked between them both and noticed just how flustered they looked. Hah, gotcha back suckers!

Clearing his throat, Shinsou quietly started explaining his childhood. The trauma of never being accepted, changing foster homes frequently because of abuse or a "wrong" fit.

"It was hard, feeling like I wasn't good enough because I was seen as a villain. I got tired of trying to prove myself and kind of… gave up. Then, the dads found me and it was all over. They didn't see a trouble-maker, they saw me, really looked at me. They saw how broken down I was and they gave me a refuge, a real home. I can never repay them."

They had both shifted as he spoke, each resting on one of my thighs while I ran my fingers through their hair. Noticing the time, I whipped out my phone and called Hana, making sure both the boys said hello to Sora. Smiling widely, I cuddle into them, enjoying the moment of serenity and safety. Especially since Bakugo was currently dozing on my lap.